Guide To The Greek Theatre

Situated within the beautiful Griffith Park, the Greek Theatre has been home to some of the most famed concerts since its inception in 1929. Owned by the city of Los Angeles, and managed, operated and promoted by an outside organization, the 5,900 seat theatre was designed by architect Samuel Tilden Norton. In addition to hosting legendary musical performances too numerous to mention, the Theatre has served as the site of dozens of school graduations and as a backdrop for many TV shows and motion pictures.
 
Built in 1929 by Griffith J. Griffith, who purchased 3,000 acres of the Los Feliz Rancho earlier in his life and gifted it to the city of Los Angeles, The Greek Theatre is owned by the City of Los Angeles. The outdoor entertainment venue hosts some of the biggest names in entertainment, holding 5,900 spectators at full capacity, making it a unique venue for memorable live performances. Here's our guide to everything you need to know to get you to The Greek.

The Greek Theatre
2700 N Vermont Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90027
(323) 665-5857
www.greektheatrela.com

Seating Options & Ticketing

A variety of seating options are available for patrons of The Greek Theatre. Single tickets are available from AXS.com, directly at The Greek Theatre box office, and through other reputable resellers such as StubHub. In addition to single seats available throughout the venue, VIP Box Suites are also available. These suites offer the ultimate in service and amenities including personal wait staff service, VIP, non-stacked parking, seating for 4-6 people, and access to the VIP Deck serving pre-show appetizers and complimentary desserts and coffee. Season seats are a great way to see every show at The Greek. With season seat purchase, you gain access to purchase non-stacked parking and the VIP Deck.
 
Seating Levels

Pit - these seats are directly in front of the stage and include standing room only. Tickets to this section can be very difficult to get.

Section A - located directly behind the pit, these are the most sought after seats for their incredible view of the stage and include seats as opposed to benches.

Section B - this section still offers a terrific view of the stage with more reasonable pricing

Section C- while this is a few sections back, the great thing about the Griffith Theatre is the views are great no matter where you sit.

Benches - behind the pit, Group A, B and C are the benches. Expect inexpensive tickets here and a fun and lively crowd.

How to Get There

The Greek Theatre is conveniently located in Griffith Park, just off the Santa Ana Freeway. There are numerous ways of getting to the theatre depending on the direction you're coming from.

Driving
If you're planning on getting to the game by car, there are a variety of different ways to get to the Greek Theatre.

• From Beach Cities and South Bay - Take the 405 North to the 10 East. Exit Vermont Avenue exit and turn left. Head straight into Griffith Park.
• From Pasadena - Take the 110 South to the 5 North. Exit Los Feliz Avenue and turn left. Turn right on Hillhurst, and then another right on Vermont.
• From the San Fernando Valley - Take the 101 South to Vine Street and exit. Continue straight under the pass and continue on Franklin. Turn left on Western and continue on to Los Feliz. Make a left on Vermont and head into Griffith Park.
• From Orange County - Take the 5 North and exit Los Feliz Avenue. Turn left onto Los Feliz, then make a right on Hillhurst and another right on Vermont. The park will be on your right.
• From Downtown LA - Take Western Ave North until it becomes Los Feliz Blvd. Turn left onto N. Vermont Ave. Continue straight to stay on North Vermont Ave. North Vermont Ave turns slightly right and becomes North Vermont Canyon Road.

Public Transportation
Although the Metro bus and train lines can get you close to Griffith Park, there is currently no form of public transportation that drops patrons off with direct access to The Greek Theatre. At its best, bus riders will be forced to walk the nearly 1-mile uphill climb to get up to the venue, making public transportation a subpar option for taking in a show, unless you want to arrive dripping with sweat. If you don't have your own transportation, consider taking Uber or a taxi cab to get dropped off directly at the concert instead.
 
Dine & Ride restaurants (outlined in the dining section below), offer a great way to get to and from the theatre while enjoying a fantastic meal.

Parking
A variety of onsite parking lots are available surrounding The Greek Theatre. Most of the parking lots feature stacked parking to make the most of space, so plan ahead for a delay when exiting the venue. Parking rates range from $15-$25 in advance from The Greek Theatre's website, or $20-$30 in cash only on the day of the event. Motorcycle parking is available for just $5.
 
Off-site, non-stacked, parking and shuttle to and from the venue is now being offered. The lots open 90 minutes before the event and parking MUST be purchased in advance via the Greek Theatre's website ($7 per vehicle). The pick-up/drop-off location is on Crystal Springs Drive, just north of Los Feliz.

Food Offerings at the Greek Theatre

The Greek Theatre offers two types of food and beverage service: your traditional "concessions" stands featuring snacks, beer, spirits, and sodas, and pre-ordered Greek Picnic baskets that get offer a pre-packaged meal full of your favorite snacks, treats, and beverages. Prices for picnic baskets start at $44 and serve two people. Current options include The Opening Act ($46) that is filled with cheese, hummus, and charcuterie, Greek salad, baguette, and two desserts. The Headliner Picnic ($44) subs a Mediterranean Chicken Sandwich for the salad and baguette. For the ultimate meal, consider The Superstar Picnic basket (($57) that includes charcuterie, Greek salad, desserts, and choice of grilled flat iron steak or chilled seared Pacific Salmon. Wines are available in picnic baskets by the bottle only; beer, wine, and soda are offered by the can and bottle respectively.

Dine & Ride Restaurants
A variety of Los Feliz restaurants are currently offering ride service to and from The Greek Theatre after your meal. Consider the following exceptional choices that make getting to and from your evening and enjoying a fantastic meal an easy endeavor. For more information, visit the Dine & Ride website.

Local Restaurants

Il Capriccio
1757 N. Vermont Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90027
(323) 662-5900
www.ilcapriccioonvermont.com

Located nearby to the Greek Theatre, Il Capriccio offers delicious traditional Italian dishes of world Napoli right in the heart of Los Feliz Village. From antipasta dishes like deep-freid fresh mozzarella to calamari fritti and more to tasty pasta dishes and Italian entrees, it's a must visit if you've got some time to spare before your show at The Greek.
 

The Dresden Restaurant
1760 N. Vermont Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90027
(323) 665-4294
www.thedresden.com

Offering a varied menu, this famed LA establishment was one of the main focus' of the movie "Swingers", Tom Hanks' "That Thing You Do" and others. But, the real reason people come is for the unforgettable fare which includes items like linguini, Angel hair pasta, filet mignon and many other options.
 

Desert Rose
1700 Hillhurst Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90027
(323) 666-1166
www.desertroserestaurant.com

Hungry before your show at the Greek? Head over to The Desert Rose for a wide range of items like shrimp cocktails, pizza and pastas, Mediterranean dishes and much more. There is literally anything you can imagine here, and the prices are quite reasonable too.

Tips for Heading to The Greek

There isn't much you can't do at the Greek Theatre, but there are some things you must keep in mind:

• Flash photography and professional cameras are not allowed
• Outside food and beverage is not allowed
• Children under the age of five will not be admitted into the Theatre.
• Guests are allowed to bring blankets or cushions into the venue.
• Shows will operate rain or shine. Umbrellas are not allowed, so if rain is in the forecast, rain clothes is recommended.

Katie Bodell is the Blog Editor for Trekaroo, the largest family travel website in the U.S. She is also a freelance writer, a happy wife to her best friend, and a mom to three sweet California girls. See more on: Trekaroo | CheapOair | Google+ | Twitter.